Sunday, September 15, 2019

Honduras and US Close to Signing New Immigration Agreements

A Honduran delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales, is scheduled to meet with officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday to negotiate three immigration agreements, according to Univision sources familiar with the discussions.

That includes a 'third safe country' agreement designed exclusively to curb the flow of Cuban and Nicaraguan migrants who pass through Honduras with the intention of applying for asylum in the United States, and which would require them to apply for asylum in Honduras, according to the sources.

Another agreement would strengthen Honduras' borders with training and assistance from US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agents, while the third involves the creation of a system for sharing biometric data, such as finger prints.

The three agreements which have already been drawn up could be signed on Thursday, despite some misgivings on the part of Honduran foreign ministry officials who feel their government is bowing to pressure from Washington, according to the sources.

The policy is intended to deny asylum to anyone who passes through another country on the way to the United States without seeking protection there, and the change reverses decades of American policies.

The deputy Foreign Minister of International Affairs of Honduras, José Isaías Barahona, confirmed Wednesday that his country is negotiating the new immigration agreements, but declined to go into details about the types of measures under discussion.